On Chinese-into-English Translation from the Perspective of Mechanics: A Case Study of Translating Chinese Multi-clause Sentences into English

Based on the view from the perspective of Mechanics that Chinese is a kinetic-energy-oriented language while English a potential-energy-oriented one, this paper explains the formations of the Chinese topic-comment structure and of the English subject-predicate structure. Hence, inevitably, the Chinese topic-comment structure featuring continuity should be reorganized into the English subject-predicate structure featuring hierarchy and discreteness. With examples taken from Chapter Three of Hong Lou Meng and its two English versions, this paper formulates the tendency of reorganization in translating Chinese multi-clause sentences into English, and points out that English rewording should rely on appropriate uses of topics and often-condensed comments with view to the thematic relevance to ensure discourse fluency and balance that help the discourse acquire greater potential energy when mentally raised.